Selectmen prepare for talks on solar credits, appoint new AgCom

TOWNSEND -- Selectmen took the first step toward negotiating the purchase of solar energy credits from the town of Lunenberg at their meeting July 2.

The board gave consent for town counsel Kopelman & Paige, P.C., which also serves as the town counsel for Lunenberg, to represent both towns on the agreement.

Although no agreement has been officially discussed, Town Administrator Andrew Sheehan said Townsend would be interested in buying Lunenberg's surplus credits for renewable solar energy.

"It would help us to reduce energy costs," Sheehan said.

Sheehan said the two towns plan to work out an agreement over the coming months.

Selectmen also made a series of appointments, including seven members to staff a new Agriculture Commission.

New appointments to the Agriculture Commission include Charles Rossbach, Keith Hutchins, James Deroian, Bart King and John Trovato, plus alternate members Susan Greenough and Nancy Chapman.

Term appointments began July 1. The appointments of Rossbach and Hutchins extend through June 30, 2016. Deroian and King's appointments are until June 30, 2015 and those of Trovato, Greenough and Chapman end on June 30, 2014.

Conservation agent Leslie Gabrilska of the Conservation Commission sent a letter to the selectmen recommending the appointments.

"There has been enthusiastic support among the agricultural community in Townsend for the creation of a commission to represent their concerns, as well as to further the awareness of agriculture in our everyday lives.

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These farmers expressed their desire to serve on the new commission, and we look forward to assisting them in the process of starting up in their new roles," Gabrilska wrote in the letter.

Other appointments approved included Mary Letourneau as Inspector of Animals, Mart Barrett to Townsend Cultural Council and Joseph Quinn as a reserve police officer, all for terms from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014.

Selectmen voted to amend a mistake they had previously made in the appointment of Roger Rapoza to the Capital Planning Committee. The board had erroneously appointed him for a three-year term, which they revised to one year.

Also on the agenda was the extension of a contract for operation and maintenance of the government access channel to Radio Engineering Associates for $12,000 for Fiscal 2014, and a material bid contract extension for the Highway Department's purchase of washed sand, reclamation, bituminous asphalt and crack sealing. Both were approved with no objections.

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